PART I

I found  Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” generally helpful. When comparing my writing process to Anne’s, I realized that there were many things we did differently. For example, when I was working through my first draft, I thought about every word I typed. I asked myself many questions. Was there a better word I could use? How could I say this differently? Does what I’m typing even make sense? I looked through this draft numerous times before printing it. According to Lamott, this draft is supposed to be unrevised. It is supposed to be thoughts on paper instead of a logical, manicured essay. This excerpt inspired me to be less mindful of what I am writing in my first draft because the best ideas come from instincts.

PART II: Revision Plan Strategy

My goal in revising the first draft of this essay is to have a complete, persuasive yet not overbearing, organized paper. I want to convince readers that metaphors are inherently positive when discussing medicine or any other topic.

I plan to achieve this goal by printing a fourth copy of my first draft. Using this copy, I will use highlighters and different colored pens (similar to Anne Lamott’s technique) to make any edits or remarks on what needs to be changed, moved, or deleted. Then, I plan to review each remark made by my peers and my professor and take into consideration any feedback they wrote in the margins or notes. After reading through all of this, I will then make the necessary changes to perfect my paper.

As of right now, my biggest challenge is a specific suggestion made by my peers. I didn’t realize before that my essay was heavily based on the opinions of Geary, Erard and Khullar, when instead it was supposed to be about my perspective on metaphors’ impact. I believe this is the biggest change I will make in the revision process.

If an unexpected challenge arises during my revision process, I will always be able to make an appointment with our writing fellow, Emmy.